Winding and put-up of twistable materials and method of winding and unwinding twistable materials



June 1, 1937. B GOLD5M|TH 2,082,489

WINDING AND PUT-UP OF TWISTABLE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF WINDING AND UNVIINDING 'IWISTABLE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BER TRHM J. Q OLDsM/TH. BY &

ATTORNEY June 1, 1937. J GOLDSMITH 2,082,489

WINDING AND PUT-UP OF TWISTABLE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF WINDING AND UNWINDING 'I'WISTABLE MATERIALS Filed Oct. 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BER TRHM u, (701.05 M/TH,

ATTORNEY 2,082,489 WINDING AND PUT-UP OF TWISTABLE MATERIAL AND METHOD June 1, 1937. B. J. GOLDSMITH OF WINDING AND UNWINDING TWISTABLE MATERIALS Filed Oct 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I igv INVENTOR M M M. Y Y m m 6, R d. m T M A T f a Y B B Patented June 1 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT emu:

Bertram J. Goldsmith, New York, N. Y., assignor to General Ribbon Mills, Inc., New York, N. 1., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 28, 1936, Serial'No. 107.988

24 Claims. (Cl. 242-55) The present invention relates to the winding, unwinding, packaging, and dispensing of webs or lengths of sheet or other twistable material, and more particularly ribbons, tapes, bindings, and 5 other narrow fabrics.

The main object of the invention is to arrange a length of twistabie material, for example. a ribbon or similar web of substantial length in the' form of a winding which will permit the web to be unwound wholly or substantially free from twist while the winding as a whole is stationary. In this respect the invention is distinguished from the method of winding a ribbon in the form of a roll on a core, continuously in one direction, and subsequently unwinding the web by withdrawing the same in a direction substantially tangential to the peripheral surface of the roll, in which case it is necessary to rotate the roll, or by withdrawing the web in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the roll, in which case the withdrawal of the web results in twisting of the latter along the length thereof.

Heretofore narrow fabrics and other twistable materials, such as ribbons, tapes, bindings, etc. have been assembled in the form of a roll, the web being wound spirally into roll form. In order to unwind the web from the roll it is necessary either to rotate the roll about its axis or to withdraw the web from the roll substantially in the axial direction of the roll, and in either case undesirable results or disadvantages ensue. For example, in selling ribbon or other narrow fabrics in retail stores, in unwinding a portion of the web from the roll while the latter is stationary, the ribbon is twisted and must be untwisted by the sales person in order to measure the quantity sold and for other reasons as, for example, to prevent wrinkling of the ribbon. In spite of these disadvantages, this method of unwinding 40 the ribbon is generally employed in retail stores although twisting of the ribbon can be prevented by mounting the roll to permit rotation thereof as the web is unwound. However, mounting of the rolls for rotation requires additional equipment such as suitable supports for the rolls, and furthermore when rolls are mounted, for rotation, due, among other things, to the inertia and friction of the roll, there is a tendency to unwind 50 more than the desired quantity of ribbon. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of both of the methods referred to, and for that purpose to provide a quantity of ribbon in such form that any de- 55 sired length of the ribbon web may be withdrawn without twisting of the ribbon and without rotating the ribbon roll.

During the manufacture of ribbons and other narrow fabrics and twistable materials, and particularly in connection with certain finishing operations in the factory. it is necessary to wind and unwind the narrow fabric web which is usually of great length. Heretofore, the web has been wound on a mandrel or similar device, and unwound therefrom by drawing the web of! the mandrel while the latter rotates. As the roll possesses considerable inertia, the rotation thereof, usually by the force exerted thereon by the tension on the fabric as the latter is withdrawn from the roll, causes the roll to continue to rotate after the tension on the web is released, with the result that considerably more than the desired quantity of ribbon is unwound from the roll. While braking means can be utilized for overcoming the inertia of the mandrel, their use is frequently undesirable because they necessitate the application of more tension to the web than is advisable or possible without interfering with the proper treatment of the fabric. Another object of the present invention, therefore, is to eliminate these dlmculties and for that purpose to provide a method of winding and unwinding narrow fabric whereby to eliminate the disadvantages of the inertia of a rotating mandrel.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to prevent twisting of certain twistable materials, such as wire and rope, disposed in the form of a coil or wound mass, by imparting to such material prior to or during the winding thereof, a twist along the length thereof, for example, one complete twist upon itself for each length of convolution. In accordance with the present invention, it is unnecessary to thus twist the stock prior to or during the winding thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon put-up or package constructed and arranged to facilitate unwinding and dispensing of the ribbon from the package.

A yet further object of the invention is generally to improve the art relating to the winding and unwinding of lengths of twistable materials including narrow fabrics such as ribbons, tapes, bindings, etc.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will best be understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present specification.

In the, drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a length of ribbon wound on a temporary support, and

illustrating diagrammatically one of the forms of the present invention;

Fig. 1a is 'a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating 5 the manner of starting the winding of the ribbon; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the winding produced in accordincewith the method illustrated in Fig. 1, showing for sake of clearness in illustration only a relatively small number l0 convolutions;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation showing a ribbon wound on a mandrel and illustrating one 15 step in the present method which, although similar to the method illustrated in Fig. l, is a variation of the latter intended for use more particularly in the factory where large quantities of ribbon are to be wound and unwound; 20 Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a further step in the method;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the ribbon winding produced in accordance with the method illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is aside view of 'a contractile mandrel which may b used in the method illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an end view of a winding on a roll illustrating another form of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the ribbon winding made in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a container for the ribbon package;

Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the container and the ribbon packages mounted therein, showing, respectively, two different ,40 forms of ribbon winding, parts of the container being broken away for the sake of clearness in illustration;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a partof a retail store counter display arrangement in which the ribbon packages of the present invention are utilized; and

Fig. 15 is'a top plan view of one of the cornpartments illustrated in Fig. 14;-

rality of, here shown as two, groups 12 and 14 of convolutions of the ribbon web, said groups being axially displaced and alternate portions of the web crossing each other at an intermediate point 18. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this ribbon for mation is produced by winding the web on a suit-' port forming the first turn 26 of the other group of convolutions, the continuing portion of the web being directed over the intermediate or crosseover point 18 for producing the second turn 28 of the first mentioned group of convolutions and then over the intermediate point It for producing the second turn 30 of the second group of convolutions. This method of winding 75 is continued until the desired: number of con- Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to the form. of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the length of :twistable material here shown as a ribbon winding i0 comprises a plu volutions is obtained, after which the winding is removed from the mandreland as indicated will be in the form illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be observed that the leading end 24 of the web will be disposed interiorly of the winding. The other web end 32 will be positionedon the outside of the winding and may be secured in position in any suitable manner as, for exam ple, by adhesive or by a pin 34.

When it is desired to unwind the web or a portion thereof, the end 24 is withdrawn from the winding through the space between the convolution groups l2 and I4. This results in the successive unwinding of alternate convolutions in said groups, and as each convolution unwinds the ribbon is twisted somewhat in one direction for one convolutionof one group and in an opposite direction for the next convolution of the other group with the result that the twists neutralize each other in a length of the ribbon corresponding substantially to two successive convolutions of different groups and the unwound portion of the web is wholly or substantialy free from twist.

In the form of the invention, and inaccordance with the method illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the web is wound in a manner somewhat similar to that hereinbefore described but modified to provide for the winding of a much greater length of material. According to this method the web is first wound helicaliy about the mandrel 36 from an intermediate point 38 in one direction along the length of the mandrel toward one end thereof, here shown at the right, to an end winding portion 40, and then the web is wound helically in the opposite direction along the length of the mandrel toward said intermediate point 38; the winding of the web is continued in the same direction toward the opposite end of the mandrel, i. e., the left end thereof, forming an end winding portion 42, after which the helical axially with respect to the windings of the underlying layer and preferably in such manner that the points at which the web convolutions cross each other in one layer of the winding are displaced with respectto similar points on the underlying layerof the winding; except that the cross-over portions at the intermediate point 38 of the mandrel in the several layers may coincide. Thus, in continuing the winding of the web after the first layer is formed, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the web is wound a lessnumber of turns so that the end winding portion 44 of the second layer is positioned closer to the intermediate point 38 than the end winding portion of the underlying layer. The winding of the second layer is continued in the opposite direction beyond the intermediate point 38 forming an end winding portion 46 located inwardly of the end winding portion 42 of the underlying layer, after which the winding of the second layer is continued in the opposite direction to the intermediate point 38, thus completing the winding of the second layer. ,The third layer may be wound in the same manner as the first layer and the fourth layer is wound in the same manner as the second layer, and so on until the desired number of layers is obtained. It is important to observe that in each of the layers, there is an odd number of points at which the portions of the winding cross each other. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the portions of the first layer cross each other at the intermediatepoint 38 and at three points 48 at each side of said intermediate point, a total of seven points; and as illustrated in Fig. 5, the second layer is so arranged that portions thereof cross each other at five points, at the intermediate point 88 and at two points 58 at each side of said intermediate point. The winding 52 thus produced is illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows only two layers, it being understood, however, that within practical limits the winding may include any number of layers. It will be observed that the leading end 53 of the winding, which is the end with which the first wound layer is started, is positioned interiorly of the winding at the intermediate portion 88 thereof there being a relativelyopen space between adjacent convolutions at the central portion of the winding opposite the intermediate point 38, said space being provided by directing the web in winding the same in such manner that the intermediate cross-over point 38 is substantially at the central or intermediate portion of the winding. When the web of the winding 52 is unwound, the leading end portion 53 is withdrawn from the winding through said space opposite the intermediate point 38. In thus withdrawing the web, the parts of each layer at opposite sides of the intermediate point 38 unwind in opposite directions in such manner thateach unwound layer has formed therein a plurality of twists which are equal in number but opposite 4 in direction, with the result that the twists neutralize each other, and the unwound web portion is wholly or substantially free from twist. It will be understood that before the winding is nuwound, it is removed from the mandrel. Accordingly, it is unnecessary, when unwinding. the web, to rotate the mandrel and for that reason the inertia of the mandrel is eliminated. Thus in the unwinding of the web after the latter is removed as a unit from the mandrel the inertia factor is negligible, as it is present only in connection with the portion of the web which is being unwound, the remainder of the winding being stationary.

In order to facilitate removal of the winding as a. unit from the mandrel, the latter is preferably contractile so as to decrease the diameter thereof and permit the winding to be readily slipped off. Any suitable mandrel of this type may be employed as, for example, the mandrel of the construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. As here shown, the mandrel is made in a plurality of circumferential'sections 58 held in expanded relationship by conical end plugs 56 against which said sections 58 are held by springs 58 mounted in circumferential grooves 68. It will be understood that when the end plugs 56 are moved outwardly or when completely removed. the springs 58 cause the sections St to move toward each other and toward the center of the 70 mandrel, thereby substantially reducing the diameter thereof.

In accordance with the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the winding 60 comprises a plurality of superposed convolutions arranged initially in the form of a roll but because of the absence of a mounting roller or core may be flattened or compressed into approximately rectangular form. Referring to Fig. 9, the method of forming the winding 80 will be readily understood. According to this method the web is wound spirally about a cylindrical core 82 in such manner as to produce a plurality of superposed convolutions, some of which are wound in one direction and others of which are wound in the opposite direction. Thus, beginning with the leading end 84 of the web, one or more convolutions are wound in the same direction about the core 62, then the web is folded as indicated at 66 and the winding thereof is continued in the opposite direction forming a plurality of convolutions to the point 68 when the web is again folded and wound in the first mentioned direction producing another set of convolutions extending to a point 10 whe the web is again folded and wound in the opposite direction. This method of winding the web alternately in opposite directions is continued until a roll of the desired size is obtained. Then the winding is removed from the core and if desired flattened or compressed into the form illustrated in Fig. 10. The leading end of the roll is located interiorly thereof, although as illustrated in Fig. 10 it is shown partially removed to illustrate the mannerof unwinding of the roll. The other end of the web may be secured at the outer surface of the roll by an adhesive or by a pin 12. In unwinding the roll 60, the web is withdrawn from the interior of the winding in the axial direction of the roll. In thus unwinding the web, twists are formed in successive portions thereof between the points at which the-web-was folded during the winding thereof, but due tothe fact that the web portions are wound in opposite directions, the twists in the 0ppositely wound portions are opposed to each other when the web is unwound with the result that said twists neutralize each other and the unwound web is wholly or substantially free from twist.

The windings thus produced, especially the windings l8 and 68 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 10, respectively, are intended particularly for ribbon put-ups and for packaging or dispensing ribbons and may be used with special advantage for that purpose. In packaging such windings, there is utilized, in accordance with the present invention, a container which I have invented for conjoint use with these windings. The container referred to is illustrated in Fig. 11 andis designated generally by reference numeral 80. Said container may be made of any suitable material, preferably cardboard, and as here shown comprises a rectangular cover 82 open at both ends 84 and provided with a central opening 86. A frame member 88 is slidable in the cover 82. Said frame member comprises side walls 88 and end walls 92. If desired, a bottom may be provided for said frame forming a complete drawer structure, but the bottomless frame member 88 illustrated is preferred for the purposes of the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the winding i0 is mounted within the container 80 and the leading end portion 28 of said winding is projected through the container opening 86 which forms a passage for the web as the latter is unwound in selling or otherwise dispensing the ribbon. Similarly, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the winding 60 is disposed within the container 88 and the leading web end 64 is drawn through the container opening 86 which forms a passage for the web as the latter is unwound from the roll in selling or' otherwise dispensing the ribbon.

In Figs. 14 and 15, there are illustrated an arrangement for and a method of displaying and dispensing ribbons in accordance with the present invention. In many retail stores, ribbon rolls having portions of the web unwound therefrom are contained in a plurality of compartments for displaying various ribbons or a plurality of ribbons of different colors.

usually comprise plate glass partition walls which are held in spaced relation by means of rectangular blocks at the bottom of the compartments.

The ribbon rolls or the mass of unwound ribbon 15 are supported on these blocks. A feature of the present invention resides in the elimination of the blocks heretofore used for spacing the glass partition walls 94 and in utilizing instead the ribbon packages or the containers ll therefor. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, the containers 80 are positioned at the bottom of each compartment and serve to hold the glass partition walls 94 in vertical position and in proper compartment-defining relation. As indicated at 9. a quantity of ribbon may be withdrawn from the container Oil and arranged over the top of the latter in the compartment for display purposes, and as the ribbon is sold more and more of the ribbon may be withdrawn from the container as needed or for display purposes.

In selling ribbons over the counter at retail, it is necessary of course to measure the length of ribbon being sold. The use of the winding 60 aflords a convenient means of obtaining accurate measurements and also facilitates the measurements of the ribbon. For this purpose, in winding the ribbon on the core 62 in opposite directions, the folds in the ribbon web are provided preferably at equi-distant points, say one yard apart. 'These folds are distinguishable as the web is unwound from the roll and thus provide a ready and convenient means of indicating the length of unwound ribbon.

Thus, it isseen that the embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are well adapted to accomplish the objects of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that while I have shown or described a plurality of embodiments of my invention the latter is capable of other embodiments which will occur to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure, and that certain changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts and in the steps of the methods herein shown and described will like- 55 wise present themselves. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the present disclosure or to any part thereof, except as may be required by the appended claims considered with reference to the prior art, and it is understood further that, unless otherwise specified in the claims, the steps in any of the methods herein claimed may be performed in a sequence which differs fromthe order of their recitation in the claims.

5 Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

l. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions wound alternately in opposite direc- 70 tions so that upon withdrawal of the material from the mass difierent portions of a withdrawn length of material twist substantially equally in opposite directions whereby said length is in nonwound condition and substantially free from 75 twist.

Said compartments.

2. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions wound alternately in opposite directions so that upon withdrawal of the material from said mass while the latter is stationary successive portions of the material twist in opposite directions whereby the withdrawn material is in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

3. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions wound alternately in opposite directions so that upon unwinding of the material from said mass by withdrawing the material progressively from the mass substantially in the axial direction of the latter, said withdrawn portions twist in opposite directions along the length thereof, whereby the withdrawn material is in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

4. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions wound alternately in opposite directions so that upon unwinding of the material from said mass by withdrawing'the material progressively from the mass substantially at right angles to the axial direction of the wound mass, said withdrawn portions twist in opposite directions along the length thereof whereby the withdrawn material is in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

5. A web of sheet material wound in roll form with successive lengths of the web wound alternately in opposite directions and in superposed relation, whereby the web can be progressively withdrawn from the roll in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

6. A web of sheet material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions, the direction of wind of some of said convolutions being opposite to the direction of wind of the other convolutions whereby said web may be withdrawn from said mass in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist by progressively withdrawing successive portions of the web from the wound mass.

7. A web of sheet material in the form of a wound mass comprising twogroups of convolutions, the convolutions in said groups, respectively, having opposite directions of wind and being so related that upon withdrawal of the web from the mass the web is in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

8. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of wound layers, each layer including groups of convolutions, the convolutions in said groups being oppositely wound in each layer so that the withdrawal of each layer from the mass causes the material to twist substantially equally in opposite directions and produces a length of said material in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

9. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of wound layers, each layer including groups of convolutions, the number of convolutions being different in different layers, the convolutions in said groups in each layer being oppositely wound so that the withdrawal of each layer from the mass causes the material to twist substantially equally in opposite directions and produces a length of said material in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

10. A web of sheet material in the form of a winding the web into a plurality of oppositely wound convolutions in such relation that when the web is withdrawn from the winding it is twisted in opposite directions in predetermined lengths thereof whereby the twists neutralize each other and the withdrawn length of web is in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

12. The method of forming a winding of a web of sheet material, which comprises winding on a core successive portions of the web, beginning with one end thereof, in the form of oppositely wound convolutions, and then removing said core, whereby the web may be unwound by successively unwinding said convolutions in the order in which they were formed.

13. The method of fomiing a winding of a web of sheet material which comprises winding said web helically on a core in one direction longitudinally of the core from an intermediate point, then in the opposite direction beyond said point, andthen in the first direction so that the web has an odd number of crossed portions; and removing said core, whereby the web may be disposed in non-wound condition by withdrawing the web from the winding beginning with the innermost web-end.

14. The method of forming a winding of a web of sheet material which comprises winding said web helically on a core in one direction longitudinally of the core from an intermediate point, then in the opposite direction beyond said point, and then in the first mentioned direction, forming a helically wound layer comprising an odd plural number of crossed web portions; forming one or more similar layers; and removing said core whereby the web maybe disposed in non-wound condition by progressively withdrawing from the winding the interiorly disposed web-end.

15. The method of forming a winding of a web of sheet material which comprises winding said web helically on a core in one direction longitudinally of the core from an intermediate point, then in the opposite direction beyond said point, and then in the first mentioned direction, forming a helically wound layer comprising an odd plural number of crossed web portions; forming one or more similar layers one or more of which has a difierent odd plural number than said first layer; and removing said core whereby the web may be disposed in non-wound condition by progressively withdrawing from the winding the interiorly disposed web-end.

16. A ribbon package comprising a ribbon web wound into a plurality of convolutions arranged so that the web may be unwound progressively, said convolutions being oppositely wound so that withdrawal of the web twists the latter in opposite directions along the length thereof, said opposite twists substantially neutralizing each other in a withdrawn web portion of predetermined length whereby the latter is substantially free from twist,

75 and means for holding the wound ribbon having provision for the passage of the withdrawn web therefrom.

17. A ribbon package comprising a ribbon web wound into a plurality of oppositely wound convolutions arranged so that the web may be unwound progressively beginning with the innermost convolution, said convolutions being thereby disposed in such relation that unwinding of the web twists the latter in opposite directions along the length thereof, said opposite twists substantially neutralizing each other in an unwound length of web whereby the latter is substantially free from twist, andmeans for holding the wound ribbon having provision for the passage of the unwound web therefrom.

18. A ribbon package comprising a ribbon web wound into a plurality of oppositely wound convolutions arranged so that the web may be unwound progressively, said convolutions being thereby disposed in such relation that unwinding of the web twists the latter in opposite directions along the length thereof, said opposite twists substantially neutralizing each other in an unwound length of web whereby the latter is substantially free from twist, and a container for holding and covering the ribbon provided with an opening for the passage of the web out of the container as the Web is unwound.

19. A ribbon package comprising a ribbon web wound into a plurality of oppositely wound convolutions arranged so that the web may be unwound progressively beginning with the innermost convolution, said convolutions being thereby disposed in such relation that unwinding of the web twists the latter in opposite directions along the length thereof, said opposite twists substantially neutralizing each other in an unwound length of web whereby the latter is substantially free from twist, and a container for holding and covering the ribbon provided with an opening for the passage of the web out of the container as the web is unwound.

20. The method of forming a winding of a web of sheet material which comprises winding said web helically on a core in one direction longitudinally of the core from an intermediate point, then in the opposite direction beyond said point, and then in the first direction so that the web has an odd number of crossed portions and removing said core. whereby the web may be disposed in non-wound condition by withdrawing the web from the winding beginning with the innermost web-end and withdrawing the same at a point opposite a central crossed portion of the winding.

21. A web of sheet material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of wound layers, each layer including a web portion wound helically in two directions axially of the mass providing an odd number of crossed web-portions in each layer whereby each layer beginning with the innermost layer can be withdrawn from the mass at a point opposite a central crossed portion thereby to produce a length of web in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist.

22. A length of twistable material in the form of a wound mass comprising a plurality of convolutions, the direction of wind of some of said convolutions being opposite to the direction of wind of the other convolutions whereby said material may be withdrawn from the wound mass in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist by progressively withdrawing successive portions of the material from the wound mass while the latter is stationary.

of groups of convolutions arranged in-such relation to an intermediate point between said groups or convolutions that the direction of wind or the oonvolutions oi one of said groups when viewed from said intermediate point is opposite to the direction of wind 01' the convolutions or another of said groups, the innermost portion of the material of the wound mass being progressively wlthdrawable therefrom at a point opposite to said intermediate point.

BERTRAM J. GOLDSMITH. 

